03/09/2025
We are native Altadenans…these are our stories
Nina Simone played softly in the background, her voice weaving through the air like a thread of solace. Two artists sat before me, their hands moving with quiet intention, seeking refuge in color, in form, in the simple act of creating.
Altadena has known loss, recent wounds still tender, stories still heavy on the tongue. But in this space, we talked, we listened, we let the weight of it settle and then slowly drift away.
Here are the true faces of the Native Altadenans—resilient, unwavering, carrying the echoes of their ancestors through fire and hardship. Still, they rise. Still, they create. Still, they endure. And knowing this, I find courage beyond measure.
